William John Paul, 19, of Bushberry Avenue, Tile Hill, Coventry, was also re-sentenced after breaching two community punishment orders, when he appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Paul admitted using threatening behaviour; breaching a community punishment order for aggravated vehicle taking and failing to stop; and breaching a community rehabilitation order for two counts of interfering with vehicles.

Magistrate Robert Kimber said Paul's complete disregard for court orders left them with no option but a jail sentence.

Eddy Windridge, prosecuting, said police saw a man running along Jardine Crescent, Tile Hill, wielding what appeared to be a hammer. The man was arrested and told police he had been running after Paul to seek revenge for an earlier attack.

The man said Paul had shouted abuse at him and punched him twice, before arming himself with a piece of wood.

The court heard that last year Paul had been caught trying to break into two cars in Bedworth, and a month later crashed a stolen car into a parked van.

Magistrates then ordered he serve two community sentences.

Steve Millerchip, defending, said: "My client has never been to prison before and it's regrettable he will be sentenced today."